[Therapeutic effect of TAX combined with Herceptin or epirubicin against breast cancer positive for Her-2/neu].

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effects of biochemotherapy regimen with Herceptin plus taxol (TAX) and the chemotherapy regimen with epirubicin plus TAX against Her-2/neu-positive breast cancer and observe the changes in serum tumor markers in patients receiving biochemotherapy.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with advanced breast cancer positive for Her-2/neu as revealed by immunohistochemistry were divided into the study group (n=32) to receive treatment with the regimen of Herceptin plus TAX and control group (n=41) with the regimen of epirubicin(EPI) plus TAX. The therapeutic effects of the regimens were observed and in the study group, the relationship of the therapeutic effect with Her-2/neu positivity and changes in serum tumor markers were examined.

Results: The objective response rate and clinical benefit response rate were obviously higher in the study group than in the control group. In the study group, the clinical response rate of patients with positive immunostaining for Her-2/neu of grades 1+, 2+ and 3+ were 0%, 44.4% and 63.6%, respectively, as compared with those in the control group of 8.3%, 36.4%, and 38.9%, respectively, and the treatment resulted in lowered levels of serum tumor markers without significant changes in CA153, tps and CEA (P<0.05) after treatment, but CA125 showed no significant difference (P>0.05).

Conclusions: In patients with advanced breast cancer with positive immunostaining for Her-2/neu of grade 3+, the regimen of Herceptin plus TAX can be more effective than the chemotherapeutic regimen of EPI plus TAX. Patients with Her-2/neu (+++) benefit more from the treatment than those with Her-2/neu (++). Serum CEA, CA153 and TPS levels also possess some value in evaluating the therapeutic effects of the regimens.